How to purchase GPUable fares with Chase UR points
Nov 15, 2018, 7:50 pm
#18
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,199
Did you escalate to a manager? I've never had a problem booking specific fare codes and specific flights, although it can sometimes take a few escalations or HUCA.
Nov 15, 2018, 10:11 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,415
I, too, recently ran into this trying to purchase a W fare. The Chase agent told me they could only search on economy, premium economy, business or first and had no idea what "W" was. I wasted a bunch of time and spoke with a few reps. The last one understood what I wanted but told me their new "improved" system did not allow purchase of a specific fare basis/bucket. In fact, this system seems to be rather deficient as reps had problems finding availability on a variety of UA nonstop flights -- suggesting idiotic things like AA nonstops from EWR that I knew didn't exist and which turned 
ut to be from JFK. The level of understanding and expertise I experienced in my recent interactions with Chase was abysmal. They seemed to have no way to offer anything other than what the computer spit out and no understanding of why these offerings were not acceptable.
I was promised a callback about this but so far I've not received one. I need to call Chase back about this.
ut to be from JFK. The level of understanding and expertise I experienced in my recent interactions with Chase was abysmal. They seemed to have no way to offer anything other than what the computer spit out and no understanding of why these offerings were not acceptable.I was promised a callback about this but so far I've not received one. I need to call Chase back about this.
Nov 15, 2018, 10:13 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: LBB, Texas
Programs: UA 1K, 1.6MM
Posts: 111
I'm planning on doing an SFO->NRT, NRT->SFO trip in September to burn a few GPUs. Does anyone have any experience buying tickets with chase ultimate points, and then applying a GPU?
It seems like te lowest available fares are GPU eligible, but Im a bit worried about the tickets being issued as bulk or group tickets.
It seems like te lowest available fares are GPU eligible, but Im a bit worried about the tickets being issued as bulk or group tickets.
I have made several purchases this way and had no problem applying GPU on United website - received PQM, PQD etc
Nov 15, 2018, 10:13 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,415
.
Nov 16, 2018, 7:14 am
#23
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: All the programs!
Posts: 1,006
She was nice but still could not request a specific fare.
Last edited by oopl; Nov 16, 2018 at 9:01 am
Nov 16, 2018, 1:01 pm
#24
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,199
Nov 17, 2018, 3:06 am
#25
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 570
Yep, the new system doesn't have the capability to do this. There are, indeed, not many special things Expedia phone agents can do other than what we can already do on the web portal.
Nov 19, 2018, 8:10 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,415
things that the Chase/Expedia agents can do that can't be done on the web site. In fact, they seemed to me to be generally incompetent.FWIW, after having my request for a specific fare class denied by Chase I called Amex travel so I could use my MR points for my ticket. My request for the same fare class was handled with no problem whatsoever.
Last edited by Xyzzy; Nov 21, 2018 at 5:43 am
Nov 20, 2018, 4:09 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
If they're not typing into SABRE or an equivalent, you will not get anywhere. If they have really moved to agents without this access, that's a huge downgrade.
Jan 4, 2019, 7:53 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,415
ved its travel portal over to Expedia one can't request specific fare classes. Their agents only have access to the same things we can pull up via the web site. Escalation will not get you anywhere. Yes this REALLY stinks. If you absolutely have to book via Chase your only option is to do so and then call UA to move to an eligible fare class. I'd suggest trying that within 24 hours of booking so you can cancel/refund if UA won't take over the ticket and take your money. Good luck.